An attempt at an ongoing mass biography of the officers and men of the 38th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Private Robert Morris Wilson

Born on 20 January 1894 in Ayrshire, Scotland - son of Thomas Wilson, Stave Falls, British Columbia - at the time of his enlistment in 1915: trade as McGill student; single; no current or previous military service; Presbyterian; height of 5 feet 7 inches; chest of 35.5 inches fully expanded; medium complexion; brown eyes; dark hair.

Attended McGill College, British Columbia, in the faculty of Arts from 1909 to 1912 - served in the Canadian Officers' Training Corps in 1915.

Joined the 38th Battalion, CEF, in Vancouver, British Columbia, on 11 March 1915 (number 411048) - departed for England in May 1915 - joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in France in July 1915 - wounded at Hooge, Belgium, on 25 April 1916 - invalided to England in April 1916 - sent to Canada on leave in January 1917 - returned to England in April 1917 - returned to France in June 1917 - promoted to Corporal in September 1917 - promoted to Sergeant in May 1918 - wounded at Hourges, France, on 8 August 1918 - sent to England to attend Khaki University in February 1919 - repatriated to Canada and discharged in August 1919.